The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
